A TEENAGER and his parents terrorised a pub by whipping a customer with a dog lead, smashing the windows and brandishing a knife.

Between them, Grenville and Josephine Harvey and their 17-year-old son Shamus terrified customers and staff at the Ship Inn, Handbridge, when they tried to settle a feud with violence.

The teenager attacked John Rosendale with a dog lead while Josephine Harvey brandished a knife as she and her husband smashed the windows, shattering glass all over the pub lounge.

The trio were to face trial on October 3 but at the last minute they pleaded guilty.

Josephine Harvey, 43, of Prenton Place, Handbridge, admitted affray, her husband admitted public disorder and her son confessed to two charges of public disorder and assault.

On Wednesday at Chester Crown Court, Grenville Harvey, 53, was jailed for three months, Shamus Harvey was sent to a detention centre for four months while his mother was given a suspended sentence of six months for two years.

The fracas started on July 2 when Shamus Harvey was passing the Ship Inn and was confronted by Mr Rosendale who was on his way into the pub for a drink.

John Oates, prosecuting, said: 'It was 8.30pm when Mr Rosendale saw Shamus and he challenged him about an alleged assault on Paul Wilbraham -­ who is the son of the licensee of the Ship Inn.

'The defendant ran off but taunted Mr Rosendale from a safe distance. Mr Rosendale just went into the pub.'

He had not been in the Ship Inn long when a window was smashed from outside and glass flew around the room.

Mr Oates added: 'He went outside to see what had happened but he was immediately jumped upon by Shamus Harvey who hit him in the face with a dog lead.

'By this time the other customers in the pub were nervous and became frightened because the rest of the windows were being smashed.

'One customer saw a knife was being used to put the windows through and he felt lucky he wasn't stabbed.'

Meanwhile, a taxi driver had pulled up outside. He had witnessed Shamus Harvey approaching the pub and attacking a man.

Mr Oates said: 'He saw him take a lead off his own dog and then lash Mr Rosendale with it. He also saw Mr and Mrs Harvey. She was carrying a large knife and they were both behaving wildly.

'He said the woman was going berserk and he was so frightened by her he wound his window up.'

The taxi driver then saw Shamus Harvey whip the man another two times with the dog lead before the trio disappeared.

Andrew Jebb, defending Grenville Harvey, a self-confessed alcoholic, told Judge Stephen Clarke that his client had a relatively minor part in the incident.

Mark le Brocq, defending Shamus Harvey, who has an extensive record for violent offences, asked the court to give credit for a guilty plea.

He said: 'My client would have pleaded guilty earlier if the prosecution had been willing to accept it.'

Simon Medland, defending Josephine Harvey, said her actions were fuelled by drink. He added: 'Her husband is a drunk and she has been subjected to years of domestic violence by her eldest son and by Grenville Harvey.

'Throughout that time she has been the one who takes care of the family and she has tried to maintain a stable environment for her youngest son Liam.

'She did not use the knife on anybody and it has been 18 years since she was last before the courts.'